Sealing device



B. H. KENNEDY SEALING DEVICE Jan.1o, 1939.

2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS Filed Feb. 2, 1957 Jan. 10, 1939. B. H KENNEDY' 2,143,418

SEALING DEVICE Filed Feb. 2, 1937' 2 sheets-sheet 2 FWZ N 279.4, F /4 /7 Z7 27 E 25 a -.Er

. `E l -a/ 'I /V/v I l -zz /3'l Z /0 /a ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to devices for sealing envelops and comprehends an improved device of this character wherein the operations of moistening the flap adjesive and folding over and pressing the ap against the body of the envelop are greatly facilitated and appreciably expedited.

Broadly the invention aims to provide in conjunction with a moistening element for the flap adhesive and a member for pressing the envelop flap in contact with the body of the envelop. guide means by virtue of which the flap is properly guided while manually moved over the moistening element and the envelop thence guided and presented to th-e pressure exerting means.

More specifically, the invention resides in an envelop sealing device which includes a guide member, a moistening element supported in juxtaposition thereto for moistening the envelop flap adhesive as the envelop is manually moved over the guide member, a guide member extension about which the flap is folded with relation to the body of the envelop, and a pressure member for pressing the envelop flap against the body having a flared mouth within which the guide member extension terminates.

As a further feature the invention contemplates a pressure member for pressing a moistened envelop flap against the body of the envelop to seal the same, which includes jaws resiliently urged into contact with each other and having divergent ends between which a guide member terminates.

With the above enumerated and other objects in view, reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, it being understood that variations and modifications which properly fall within the scope of the invention are covered by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig, 1 is a front view of an envelop sealing device constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View thereof.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view therethrough taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a similar view taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a similar view taken approximately on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. (iy is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line B--I of Fig. 1.

(Cl. 1Z0-6) Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, IIJ designates an elongated, preferably rectangular, base upon which is mounted an upstanding longitudinally extending plate II adjacent one end of the base, the plate having a flange I2 at its lower end which is secured by screws or equivalent fastening means I3 to said base. The plate is provided at its upper edge with a rearwardly directed horizontal flange I4, the opposite ends of which merge into rolled terminal portions I5 and I6 surrounding a rod il which protrudes from the rolled portion I5 and terminates adjacent the opposite end of the base from that upon which the plate II is mounted.

A moistening element, consisting of a container IB having a slotted upper wall I9 through which an applicator brush protrudes, is mounted on the rear of the plate I I adjacent the upper edge thereof with the brush terminals protruding above the upper surface of the flange I4 whereby the flap F o-f an envelop E, as illustrated in Fig. 3, is guided by the flange I4 as the envelop is manually moved with reference to the plate II. This causes the undersurface of the flap F which is provided with the adhesive to be moistened and as the envelop with the moistened flap is manually moved to the right onto the protruding portion of the rod Il and leaves the plate II, the envelop is swung to a horizontal position and the flap folded against the body of the envelop E, as shown in Fig. 4, in surrounding relation to the rod I'I which constitutes a guide member extension.

The device further includes a pressure member for pressing the moistened envelop ap against the body which pressure member includes an upstanding angulated body having a rear longitudinally extending wall 2| and a transverse forwardly projecting wall 22 provided respectively with horizontal lower flanges 23 and 24 secured by screws or equivalent fastening devices 25 to the base adjacent the end and forward edges thereof. The rear wall, which is slightly higher than the transverse wall 22, is provided with a forwardly extending top flange 26 having an upwardly curved flange terminal 2l and constitutes a fixed pressure jaw. An arcuate resilient jaw 28 is anchored at its lower end by rivets or equivalent securing means 29 to the transverse wall 22 and extends over the upper edge 30 of said transverse wall and under the xed jaw 26 in such a manner that the jaws present towards the moistening element and guide plate II, a flared mouth between which the extremity of the guide rod il terminates so that the envelop with its moistened folded iiap, as shown in Fig. 4, is properly presented and guided between the Xed jaw 26 and the resilient jaw 28, which jaws exert a pressure to seal the ap as the envelop is manually drawn therebetween.

In order to regulate the tension or the resilient jaw, the same is provided with a threaded stud 3i xed thereto intermediate its ends and extending through an aperture 32 in the transverse wall 22 with a thumb nut 33 engaging the portion of the same whi-ch protrudes through the aperture 32.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for sealing envelops, a member for pressing the moistened guinrned flap into contact with the envelop body, comprising a standard having vertical angularly related side and transverse walls, the former being of greater height than the latter and having a transverse horizontal top iiange formed with an upwardly curved forward end defining an upper jaw, and an upwardly bowed resilient jaw at the upper edge of the transverse wall resiliently engaging the undersurface of the upper jaw.

2. In a device for sealing envelops, a member for pressing the moistened gunnned flap into contact with the envelop body, comprising a standard having vertical anguiarly related side and transverse walls, the former being of greater I height than the latter and having a transverse horizontal top flange formed with an upwardly curved forward end dening .an upper jaw, an arcuate resilient jaw anchored at its lower end to the transverse wall, extending upwardly over the upper edge thereof and resiliently engaging the undersurface of the upper jaw.

3. In a device for sealing envelops, a member for pressing the moistened gurnrned flap into contact with the envelop body, comprising a standard having vertical angularly related side and transerse walls, the former being or" greater height than the latter and having a transverse horizontal top flange formed with an upwardly curved forward end dening an upper jaw, an arcuate resilient jaw anchored at its lower end to the transverse wall, extending upwardly over the upper edge thereof and resiliently engaging the undersurface of the upper jaw, and means for regulating the tension of the lower jaw against the upper jaw comprising a threaded stud xed to said lower jaw, extending through an aperture in the transverse wall and a nut engaging the protruding portion of said threaded stud.

4. In a device for moistening and sealing envelops, a base, a support mounted on said base, a longitudfnally extending ange at the upper edge thereof, a rod secured to said supp-crt and projecting outwardly from one end there-oi, said iange .and rod providing a narrow guide over which the envelope are moved for inoistening and the same, a pair of jaws having oppositely curved forward portions, one oi said jaws being fixed and the other having resilient engagement with the und jaw, and said rod having a free end extending inte said ineuth between the jaws for guiding the envelop therebetween for sealing the BENJAMIN H. KENNEDY. 

